Everyone has such a vicious feeling as fear. Moreover, the instinct of self-preservation is laid down at the genetic level, otherwise we would have already died out as a species long ago. Therefore, fear is normal and natural for every person. But, one thing, if you know how to suppress this feeling in yourself. And it’s completely different if it prevails over you and your life. Often people do not see this difference and call it a coward for anyone who experiences any kind of hitch. And yet, who really can be called a coward?
In the novel by Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin "Eugene Onegin" the main character can be called a coward. Yes, he solved some important matters, attended various events, and fought in duels. It seems that this is a fearless and determined person. However, he is a coward. When a duel was scheduled with his only friend, Vladimir Lensky, he did not refuse it, although he himself considered this venture stupid. He was overcome by doubts and fears about public opinion. He was terribly disgraced in front of the secular world. And because of such stupidity, Eugene killed his only loved one. The coward in this example is a person who cannot go against public opinion, who is dependent on him and cannot resist him.
It is worth recalling another work of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin - the novel "The Captain's Daughter." Alexey Shvabrin is a real coward. He does not value his principles, he forgets what honor and duty are, he is ready to keep the girl in captivity and to get her consent to the wedding. Without any hesitation, he runs into the camp of the enemy, if only to "save his own skin." He is ready to give up anything, and all this because of banal fear. While his associate Petr Grinev to the last cherishes his principles and is not inferior to fear. Aleksey is a banal and convinced coward, you will not catch him with anything, because he justifies all his meannesses with fear.
Despite the fact that the works of Alexander Sergeyevich were written back in the 19th century, people like Yevgeny Onegin and Aleksey Shvabrin exist to this day. Yes, as I said above, each of us experiences fear, and this is normal. But the most important thing in a person’s life is to be rational and not to follow this feeling, but always to listen to common sense and not to deviate from one’s principles. And then you will never be called a coward.
